Rockets' Rally Falls Short Again in 73-68 Home Loss to Buffalo

Saturday, January 30

Toledo, OH

7:00 PM

University of Toledo

12-9 (3-5MAC)

Buffalo

12-9 (5-3MAC)

Buffalo

TOLEDO

Freshman Jaelan Sanford tallied 15 points in UT's 73-68 loss to Buffalo.

Photo by: Scott Grau

Rockets' Rally Falls Short Again in 73-68 Home Loss to Buffalo

1/30/2016 10:13:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

TOLEDO, OH - Buffalo turned away every rally Toledo could muster on Saturday evening as the Bulls (12-9, 5-3 MAC) pulled out a 73-68 victory over the Rockets (12-9, 3-5 MAC) in Savage Arena.

Senior center Nathan Boothe, junior guard Jonathan Williams and freshman guard Jaelan Sanford paced the Rockets with 15 points apiece. Boothe also grabbed a team-high 12 rebounds for his third straight double-double and ninth of the season.

Buffalo was led by the tandem of junior forward Blake Hamilton (17 pts., 8 reb.) and sophomore guard Lamonte Bearden (16 pts.).

Toledo was hampered by a season-high 19 turnovers but that was somewhat offset by the Bulls' 17 miscues. UT registered a 40.0 field-goal percentage and was just 6-of-25 (.240) from behind the three-point arc. Buffalo shot slightly better at 41.7 percent and was 9-of-24 (.375) with its long-distance attempts.

Each team knocked down 14 free throws with the Rockets converting at a slightly higher rate, 82.4-73.7.

The Bulls led from start to finish and took their first double-digit lead, 32-21, following a turnover that led to a Bearden layup seven minutes before halftime.

Buffalo's lead didn't dip below six points until a Sanford trey brought the Rockets within 57-52 with 7:52 to play. Bearden immediately answered with four straight points, but Boothe's traditional three-point play and a Sanford jumper made it a four-point contest, 61-57, with 6:06 left.

After the teams traded free throws, UT had three straight empty possessions before the Bulls' slammed one home for a 65-59 margin at the 3:35 mark.

Junior guard Jordan Lauf's two free throws cut the visitors' lead to 65-61 on UT's next possession. Toledo then climbed to within 65-63 following a pair of Boothe free throws with 1:36 to play.

UT saw Buffalo miss its next shot but Hamilton grabbed the board for a putback and a 67-63 advantage with 1:06 left.

Boothe's trey on the Rockets' next possession rimmed out, and the Bulls closed out the victory by burying six straight free throws.

Toledo is back in action for a third straight home game when it hosts MAC West Division foe Western Michigan (9-12, 3-5 MAC) on Tuesday, Feb. 2. Tip-off time is set for 7:00 p.m.